Krishna and Radha Sheltering from the Rain by Anonymous

Krishna and Radha Sheltering from the Rain c. 1760

0:00

painting, watercolor

painting

asian-art

landscape

figuration

watercolor

islamic-art

watercolour illustration

miniature

Dimensions 9 5/16 × 5 1/2 in. (23.65 × 13.97 cm) (image)25 3/4 × 21 3/4 × 1 in. (65.41 × 55.25 × 2.54 cm) (outer frame)

This painting of ‘Krishna and Radha Sheltering from the Rain’ was made by an anonymous artist. The painting's composition is neatly arranged, with a symmetrical grouping of figures around a central tree. The color palette is muted, dominated by greys and greens, which create a somber yet tender mood. The figures are arranged in a manner that emphasizes their emotional connection. Krishna and Radha are depicted in close embrace. The use of sheltering motifs destabilizes the traditional relationship between the human and natural worlds, suggesting a merging of emotional and environmental states. Notice the stylized clouds which act as semiotic indicators. The clouds do not simply represent a weather event but symbolize a broader cosmic drama which invites interpretation of the spiritual context. The painting functions as an exploration of love that transcends mere representation, inviting viewers to question fixed emotional and environmental states.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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Among the classic subjects of courtly Indian painting is the love-sport of Krishna (earthly incarnation of Vishnu) and the milkmaid Radha. The theme was popularized by devotional poetry, such as the 12th century poet Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda (Love Song of the Dark Lord), which provided evocative inspiration for visual artists, and for devotees, an emotional template to structure his or her own relationship with the Lord. The passion between Krishna and Radha is a metaphor for devotion (bhakti), and union with the divine. In this painting, a sudden cloudburst forces the couple to seek refuge under a stately mango tree. While their cowherd attendants obediently offer a leafy parasol (symbolizing divine status) and lotus stalk (symbolizing purity), Krishna and Radha lock eyes in anticipation of a kiss. The scene alludes to an earlier moment in Krishna’s mythology, when he lifts a mountain to protect the village of Braj from a thunderstorm sent by the lightning-bolt wielding Lord Indra. Here, narrative has given way to conveying the emotive essence, or “rasa,” of the couple’s love: birds flutter, the earth swells, and the saturated palette invites the viewer to experience the divine embrace.